Tulane continues residential college plans

A swath of green space on the westernmost edge of Tulane’s campus will soon be home to additional on-campus housing that will incorporate the university’s historic look while keeping with modern design standards.

Earlier this month, test pilings were driven into the plot near the intersection of Broadway and Zimple streets on the Newcomb College campus. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year on a 79,000-square-foot residence hall, Zimple House, which will be home to 256 students. The Lemoine Co. of Lafayette is the lead contractor on the project, which had an estimated pre-construction cost of $21 million.

Collette Creppell, university architect and director of campus planning, said Zimple House is the third in a series of new residential buildings that make up an on-campus housing plan Tulane has been adjusting over the past four years. Wall Residential College and Weatherhead Hall have already been completed.

“Zimple House, like the others, will offer dorm space, but it will also feature special spaces like a large living room and a demonstration kitchen,” Creppell said. “The buildings feature faculty on residence so that students and teachers can be brought together in an inviting setting.”

Creppell said the portion of Zimple House facing Broadway will be four stories. As the building goes deeper into the campus property, its height increases to six stories.

The building follows suit with the original plan for the campus dating back to 1912, she said.

“When university architect James Gamble Rogers laid out the Newcomb campus, he had a vision of a building on this spot that flanks Newcomb Hall,” Creppell said. “The team of architects who designed the building (ARO of New York and Waggoner & Ball locally) took cues from surrounding structures, but materials involved are designed to meet and surpass the campus standard when it comes to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. There are many sustainable features being incorporated into the building.”

Creppell said the university is expected to have building permits from the city by the beginning of December. The target completion date is July 2014.